Most Naturalmate’s mattress is delivered in a reusable, plastic-free bag. On occasions when these bags cannot be used, they deliver in bags made from carbon neutral bioplastics derived from sugarcane and recycled plastic – these bags are fully recyclable (if your council does not collect LDPE 4 plastic you may need to take them to your local supermarket).
I like the excellent end of life policy which takes into account the amount of mattress waste we see: when you need to refresh your mattress you can either have it repaired and ‘restuffed’, donate it or recycle with it. A great initiative that will help you sleep better.
A mattress feels more or less firm depending on whether your bed is firm or flat, respectively. In any case, it feels stronger than expected at first, but should soften after a few weeks of use. And wool in the mattress can impart natural odors, which should subside after airing.
Hypnos 05 mattress inspired by nature
pros
- Reactive 10 turn springs adjust to your body movements
- Sustainability – use of natural materials and recycled materials, recyclable packaging, supported by the Eden Project
- Hypno are royal warrant holders
- Extremely supportive and comfortable
opposition
- The 40 night comfort trial is less than many retailers offer
- Shift heavily about
Hypnos Inspired by Nature 05 features Responsible Wool Standard British wool, natural graphite-infused latex, a natural fruit fiber layer made from banana, orange and pineapple leaf and stem fibers and the brand’s unique ‘ReactivePro’ 10-turn pocket-up technology. Derived viscose. In addition to its excellent natural credentials, it’s also the most comfortable mattress I’ve ever slept on, soothing my back pain from the first night, thanks to the springs that adjust to my every movement. Motion isolation, temperature regulation and edge support are all excellent and with a choice of two firmness options, all sleeping styles are well catered for.
Because it’s sold by Bensons for Beds, you only get a 40-night sleep trial with the mattress, which is a little weak for the high price. There is also a delivery charge.
REM-Fit Natural Lux Hybrid Mattress
pros
- Especially suitable for back sleepers
- Reasonably priced for an organic mattress
- Great temperature regulation
opposition
- A small amount of motion transfer
This is a classic medium firm mattress that is especially suited for back sleepers looking for decent lumbar support. I found it soothed my back pain well. Temperature regulation is excellent and the mattress is made with layers of Hampshire wool combined with full length pocket springs. I also loved the traditional hand tufted finish. At full price, the REM-Fit is £949 for a double but frequent discounts mean you can usually get around 20% off, making this a real bargain for a natural mattress.
There is some motion transfer with the mattress so if you are sharing your bed with a restless sleeper, it may not be the best option. It’s also very firm for a lightweight side sleeper – I woke up with a slightly dead hip while sleeping in this position.
This mattress is made to order in the UK by Hypnos With White Company. It’s their top mattress, crafted with responsibly sourced British wool from traceable, red tractor-farmed farms. They also work with The Woolkeepers® organisation, a ‘quality assurance scheme of which Hypnos is a part – committed to delivering and promoting environmental and social change and ensuring farmers are paid a fair price’. It also contains layers of organic cotton, linen and hemp as well as natural latex. The carpet surface is chemical free.
Handmade to order, you can wait up to eight weeks for delivery and once it arrives there is no sleep trial. You also can’t return the mattress once you’ve opened the packaging, meaning you’ll need to try it on while it’s still wrapped.
Whether you like this or not will depend on whether you like a very firm mattress: this is the brand Naturalmate’s strongest mattress, consisting of two chunky layers of coir, which provides the mattress with rigid stability, but also allows it to breathe, with a layer of bouncy natural latex in the middle, and wrapped in a layer of needle-punched mohair, which helps regulate body temperature. It is 21cm deep and comes with a ten year guarantee. Although I found the mattress a little firm for my own personal taste, all the customer reviews on the website give it five stars and, if you’re looking for a firmer mattress, it’s hard to beat. A big bonus is that if you share a bed with someone who has different mattress preferences, you can buy two types with zip-and-link covers to meet individual needs.
Only for those looking for a particularly firm mattress.
No. 2 mattress, original Savoy mattress
know The rugs are all made by their hands London The workshop uses traditional techniques and natural materials to create the perfect night’s sleep using wool, horsetail and cotton. Although you won’t see it often, we like that it comes in three colors (grey, silver or white), which makes it stand out from the crowd. There are also three firmness ratings to choose from and rather cleverly, you can mix two tensions in one mattress to suit you and your partner. Sleeping on No. 2 is an incredibly luxurious experience: perfect firmness (they believe the 7.5 pocket springs that turn on ensure this), with no movement if your partner turns over during the night. You’ll find Number 2 at the Savoy Hotel in London, or you can visit a Savoy showroom to try out the mattress.
Its extremely high price puts this mattress out of the reach of many and there is no trial period, which can seem risky for such an expensive mattress. The mattress is labeled leather, meaning it is not vegan-friendly.
Owen mattress, king, single tension
pros
- Available in single, zip and link and split tension for king size and up
- 100% natural fibers and pocket springs
- Just rotate the mattress, no need to flip
opposition
- Double size is available in single tension only
- The zip and link versions are more expensive
Owen is designed by luxury mattress brand Harrison Spink in Yorkshire. Feather and black. Inside is fully traceable British wool, farm-grown hemp and hemp, which is antibacterial and has cooling properties. The Double has 9,690 auxiliary pocket springs, which are 100% recyclable – this increases to 14,360 in the Emperor. Those springs are designed to be extremely responsive, adjusting to movement to ensure your body is supported at all times.
This mattress has a slightly shorter warranty (7 years) than the 10 years offered for other feather and black mattresses on this list. Although it claims to be made from 100% natural materials, the surface is a wool-viscose blend, so there is a synthetic element with viscose.
OTTY Natural Evolve mattress
This is a premium mattress OttoThe natural range of Made in the UK, OT uses wool with silk and cashmere for a luxurious finish that is still, for the organic mattress sector, very reasonably priced. We also love the fact that this mattress can be flipped and rotated, which helps extend its lifespan. Customers rave about the support and comfort offered by Natural Evolve.
The cover is made from semi-synthetic viscose.
Is it worth buying an organic mattress?
The benefits of organic mattresses are plentiful.
Good for people with allergies, or if you are concerned about the possible toxicity of certain synthetic materials.
It’s often better for the environment if the material is sustainably grown or harvested, and processed without chemicals – we’ve done our best to choose natural mattresses that fall within this category.
If you dislike the synthetic ‘off-gassing’ smell that new memory foam mattresses give off, a natural mattress is a good choice. However, one thing to keep in mind is that some organic mattresses, such as those filled with wool, can have their own natural scent, so it’s down to preference. We recommend visiting a showroom to lightly road-test any mattress you’re interested in. Many companies also offer extensive sleep trials, allowing for flexibility on purchase.
What is the best organic mattress?
Although there are plenty of choices on the market these days, when it comes to all-natural mattresses that are made from start to finish with that in mind, Naturalmate Undoubtedly the leader in the field. From their sustainable packaging initiative mentioned earlier in this piece, to their Mattress for Life scheme to refurbish, recycle or donate your mattress at the end of life, which ensures your mattress isn’t resigned to landfill. In terms of the manufacturing process, they use only sustainable natural materials, reuse fabric offcuts and make their rugs to order, which minimizes waste.
What is the healthiest type of mattress?
Mattresses made of purely natural materials, which have not been chemically treated, are considered the healthiest for both you and the environment. Using organic materials eliminates the risk of toxins and chemicals that can be found in certain synthetic materials or the synthetic smell that a memory foam mattress can give off.
What makes an organic mattress different from a regular mattress?
Essentially, organic mattresses use natural materials such as wool, latex, cashmere and silk, all of which will be from sustainable and environmentally friendly sources. They avoid using any artificial ingredients. Organic alternatives also avoid the use of harsh chemicals.
Natural latex in particular has a much longer lifespan than synthetic materials and some primarily latex mattresses can last you up to 20 years, as opposed to the synthetic version which will need to be replaced every five to 10 years depending on the type.
What certifications should I look for to make sure the mattress is truly organic?
Look for reliable labels like GOTS, GOLS and OEKO-TEX as markers of authenticity and safety.
Are organic mattresses more breathable than conventional mattresses?
Generally, yes. Materials like wool and latex are naturally breathable and moisture wicking, which means they are able to regulate your temperature more effectively throughout the night. For example, natural latex has an open-cell structure to aid airflow and wool is a natural moisture wicking material.
However, we are seeing a growing number of specialist cooling mattresses on the market, with many using specially designed materials and fillings to keep sleepers cool. Phase change materials (PCMs) are typically wax or gel substances that absorb and release heat as they change from liquid to solid, helping to regulate temperature and are increasingly used in mattresses to help keep sleepers cool and comfortable.
